Power-transmission mechanism.



J. W. DAWSON. POWER TRANSMISSION MBGHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 29, 1912.

Patented Nov. 8, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

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Jyfzfm @M5070 THE NURRIS PETERS C0., PHOTO-LITHO.. WASHINGTON; D. C.

J. W. DAWSON. POWER TRANSMISSION MECHANISM.4

Patented Noms, 1914.

2 SHEETS-*SHEET 2.

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APPLICATION FILED AUG. 29, 1912. 1 1 1 6,028.

l dt? warrenN srArEs'PATENT OFFICE;

JOHN W. DAWSON,- ,asrucese tamme Assieme@ ONE-.Herr T0 JQHN C- DEPEW,

Cameco, @www POWER-TRANSMIssIQN liirncHaNlrsM.

' #www sie@ Augusta 1,951.24 salam 117m To all whom @may concern: i a

Be it known that'I, JOHN -DAWsoN,

a citizen of the United States, residing at mission or system of controlling 'the ytrans# l mission of Ipower from an .engine to L,m1-axle or jack shaft such as is used, lfor example, jin a motor truck. In'such alcase anumhenof prime Acmdtorls are to .be met, as, 01". @2Q ample, ability t0 thrive atndierent Speeds; ability to drive either forward or hack von one vor more speeds; y whereby each driving Wheel vvill carry` its proper load on a curva or when the wheels are notof exactlythe same diametenetc.

The main `object of .the )present invention is to providea yreversing mechanism which will operate entirely on .the friction clutch principle, :so that 'it Will not be necessaryy to change gearing .when changing Afrom the forward ,to the reverse position, but so that these changes can be accomplishediby simply releasing one clutch and throwing inanother. By adopting such an arrangement the control is greatly gfacilitatedl ,and the dangersof not bringing the gearsinto clutch are removed. rT he importance of these improvements Will be appreciated When it is considered that many accidents are lthe .re-Q

sult of failure on the part ofthe driverto reversehis transmission gearsby reasonof inability to bring Athem into `clutch on ithe reverse position.`

Another object ofithe inventionisto simplifyithe mechanismzgwherebythe changes of speed are elfected. In ythefpresent easel have provided such apmec'hanism that n o additional rotating vrelements are necessary," no matterhow many additional ,speeds-maybe desired, the only change .required ibeing the additionoftan annulargear to each of tivo rotating disks,` and the addition of a single pinion tothe power shaft,,correspondv ing to each additional speed required. Moreover, by the yarrangement lherein adopted,

theentire change-speed mechanism can be very easily incased, and 4thus protected'lfrom theingressof Vdust",'etc. f

l Still another objectOf-theIinventiOnis to combine lthe differential mechanism directly Specification ofvLetlters Patent.

dierential clutching retreated Nov. a 19.14

kWith the ymain povver ,mechanism and with the reversing clutching levers, so vthat all 0f .the parts are positively 4Connected t0- gether, and fthereforewunder @the \`instanta neouscontrol ofthe operator. f

Q ther-objects and uses will appear from adetai led description of the invention, which .consists ofqthe features of construction and Acombin ation of tparts hereinafter `'clesrihed and claimedln .the :drawings f IFigure '1 shows a plan vievv'of the ,entire mechanism, the several link connections for operating .the clutches andA dierential `mechanisms being shown by means of. dotted lines; Fig. ..2 shows ,a horizontal section taken fthrough the central l part offthemechanism,fFg 3 sho'vvs an'en larged` ,detail .taken on line 3--3of `Fig. 1, looking in the direction'of the arrows; Fig; 4 lshows an ,enlargedcsection taken on line ljllof ;Fiig 2,1.lookingein the direction of the l arroivsg'Fig. `5 `shovvsan enlarged detail of the'cam meohanismfor throwing one of the clutches; fEig. f6 ,shovvs an venlarged detail taken onclinefvof Fig2, looking in the direction of the arrows; and Figi 7 `shovvs an looking in the:` direction ofthe arrows.

kllnwthe several figures, I have illustrated `1nynvention as applied-to the jack shaft of althoughv itavillfbe understoodjthat Vit `may be Vusefully an automobile ytruck or thelike,

meral @8and fterminatesateither end in a applied to many otherpurposes and conspindleQ, 'to each fof .which spindles the enlarged detail taken on line 7L-Tof Fig. 2,

driven elements are'i (connected, as will be` presentlyfshovvn. i c

"Thepovver shaft fromltheengine or other source of power is designated bythe nu- Ameral ;10,and preferably lies `at right angles to fthe jack shaft, andrhas its inner end 12 mounted ina bearing 13,011 the center of the ijaclr`sliaft. fllhisbearing is preferably split=on ahorizontal plane and is provided Witha babbittrlll or other similar filler. In

order to :retain the power shaftin accurate alinement and it against any -possible end thrusts, itis provided with anannular groove 15 ,into which the babbitt seats sub jstantially as illustrated. i

iAt thesides of fthe power lshaftclutches lfandxl-are provided,.each of which has a drivingmember connected to a sleeve the jack shaft.

19 or the like, which in turn may rotate on As an eiiicient vbearing at this point, the construction illustrated may be adopted. The same comprises a hardened metal sleevev 20 having its ends shoul-` dered and adapted to receive balls 21. The sleeve 19 in turn carries collars 22 and23, which engage the outer faces of the balls. By this construction, not only is the friction of rotation reduced but also va ball bearing end thrust is provided. Each of the sleeves 19 carries a disk 24, which in turn have on their inner faces the annular gears 25 and 26 which are of different radii and are adapted to mesh with corresponding pinions of the power` shaft. These pinions are designated by the numerals 27 and 28, corresponding to the annular gears 25 and 26. Means are provided for driving through any desired pinion of the'power shaft to the corresponding annular gears of the disks. As a simple mechanism for accomplishing this purpose, I retain both of the pinions constantly inmesh with their respective annular gears,`butonly bring them into driving connection with the power shaft atsuch times as desired. By adopting this construction, in which the pinions are always in mesh with the annular gears, I overcome the difficulty which has hitherto existed of not always bringing 'the pinions into mesh with the gears. Further-y more, by this construction, the two disks are always kept vin exactly the proper relative positions with respect toeachvother.

As a simple means of effecting the driving connections between the pinions and the oower shaft, I haveprovided the blocks 29 and 30, which are feathered to the power shaft by keys 31 and 32, so that they rotate constantly. As shown in Figs. 6 and 7, each pinion is providedwith atransverse slot 33, and each ofthe blocks hasa tongue 34 which can be brought into register `with thecorresponding slot. Therefore, by sliding the proper block intomesh with its corresponding pinion, a driving connection will be established. Each of the blocks is preferably provided with an annular groove 35, which may be engaged by a yoke or other device of suitable construction.

I make use of the feather keys 31 and 32` for attaining another result, namely, holding the pinions constantly in mesh with the annular gears. For this purpose each feather key abuts against the end of its corresponding pinion, as will be apparent from ig. 2, and thus prevents the same from sliding endwise on the power shaft.

It will now be seen that the two-disks are constantly driven in opposite'directions, so that the jack shaft will rotate in .the direction corresponding to the disk to which it is clutched. For effecting the clutch connection, I providel a. sliding sleeve 36 adsliding jacent to each of the disks 18, and each of said sleeves has a flange 37, to which. is se,- cureda cone 38 or the like of suitabley friction material. When the latter is forced against its corresponding disk 18, the driving connection is established. Each of the sleeves 38 is keyed to the jack shaft by a lfeather 39, but is. normally pushed back awayy from thezc'orresponding disk 18 by `means ofa spring v40. Therefore, as soon as the clutching force is ren be disengaged.

fAs a simple means for forcing each `of the ysleeves 36 along the jack shaft to' effect the clutching operation, I have adopted the mechanism shown in enlarged detail in Fig. 5. The same comprises a collar 41 fixed to the ack shaft, as by means of a set screw 42, and carrying on its inner face a hardened bearing 43. lA similar hardened bearing 44 abuts against the end of the sleeve, two other hardened bearings 45 and 46 being placed between the bearings 43 and 44. Balls 47 and 48 are set between the several bearings s0 as to reduce the friction as much as possible. y

The' bearings45 and 46 preferably do not rotate,but have mounted between them `the elliptically formed blocks 49 and 50. When the' latter are turned into the position shown in Fig. 5, they force the sleeve 36 away from ythe collar 41,'and thus effect the clutching operation. Lever arms 51 and 52 are connect'ed to the elliptical blocks and toa link 53, so `that by pulling down the latter into the' position shown inl Fig. 5, the clutching will be effected. The mechanism thus far described serves to permit the jack shaft to be driven at any desired number of speeds, either forward or back. I will now describe the preferred ydifferential mechanism which I have provided for taking up inequalities of the speeds 'of the wheels at the two ends of the shaft.

The bearing blocks on which the truck is `mounted are designated by the numerals 54 and 55; each bearing block is preferably provided with a ball bearing construction similar to that previously described. A sleeve 56 is keyed to each of the spindles 9 by` a key 57, said sleeve having an annular flangey 58,l the periphery of which extends outwardly as a cup 59; each sprocket. 60 is secured vto a sleeve 61, which in turn has a liange 62, whichabuts against the cup of the fiange 58, so as to `provide therewith an inclosed box. To each `of `the anges 62 is connected a toothed wheel 63, as shown more particularly in Fig. 4. A pair of dogs 64 and 65 are ypivoted at the points 66 and 67 `to the inner face of the flange 58, so that they can be rocked into either of two positions. Y Each side of the box 59 is provided l with a pair of shoulders 68 and 69, against oved, the parts will which the fends v,of-the .dog will abut'for-Ldrivngpurposes. Eachiendfroffeach dogiislpro-` vided .with Ya lug .7.0 ad anted rto engage fthe Tor eifeet rths result, I.the ydogs are' provided withlingers 7l and .-7.2 which' projectzthrongh slots '73 and 7d ofthe Vflalngfe.58. fObvlously,

' as theiangefrotates, the fingers ,will travel with it. A pair of pins and are slidablymounteddneach ofk the lbearings 5 4 andv 55. The pin .75 stands Latayless distance from thefcenterefrthe 4jack shaft -.tl1a11 does the pin `76, andis adapted torstrikefthe' .inner faces of the pins 'Tf1l andfQ as-.thelattertravel and4 thus ythrow,them fontw-ardly. .Onthe kother hand, .when-thepin (76 `is projected, it is adapted gtostrikethe outer faces `of the pins Hand 52 and ythus throw `them inwardly toward the jaokshaft,thereby.ref versing-thevpositonsofthefdogs.

A:For theipnrpose.y of.holdin g thev dogs either "in the one position o r theothgcnas desired, I extend the pinsa ts110167 `througgh the flange Sandterm'inatemhem in the cups 77 `and 78,-asshownin Fig..3. A collar 79 is secured to the axle :and carries a pair of sockets 80;andl'opposite'tothe cups 77 and 7S respectively, springs82and SBfbeinginfterposed between each cup and its corresponding socket. YThese springs will act as toggles to hold thedogsin either one lposition or the other. f

(Dbviously, meansshould be provided for projecting either thepin 75 or r76,fas desired,k corresponding` to whichever of the clutches 16 or 17 is being used. I have shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1 a series of link connections which will accomplish v the aforementioned results. Assuming `the power shaft to be turning over inthe direction of the arrow ofFig. 1, the disks will be rotating in the directions indicated by the arrows. Therefore, the right hand y.clutch should be thrown in order to drive forward. On the other hand, the left hand clutch would be thrown fo-r driving backward. By. pulling on the link 84 of Fig. 1, the right hand clutch will be thrown into service.k Arms 85 and 86 are extended out from each of the bearing members 54 and 55,.belll cranks S7 and 88 being pivoted to the said arms. The bell crank 87 is connected to the other Iside of rthe machine. Therefore, when the ,clutj'chfl'? thrown into service, the corresponding pins 76 will be projected lfor .throwing thedogs into the proper posi-` tionsforfdrivingforward. j In like manner vsimilar,bell.cranks and link connections are will beirou'ght intooperation. :It willlbe seen that by-means ofthe above described mechanism orq its equivalent, ythe, jacklshaft can begdriven either forward or back V at a number of speeds, depending gearsfand pinions provided. Although onlyy ings, itfis manifestthatthey might be added .to indefinitely. Furthermore, bykeeping fthe pinions `constantly in mesh with their annular gears, and providing means for locking the .pinions individually to the drivingshaft, vI have provided a construction in which the setsof annulargearsare constantly y,heldat a proper relativepo-sition with yirespect gto each other. f `l3`urthermore,

` tion to be overcome-when the machine is standing-'idleiwill be the friction of the driving shaft in its Vend bearing and at the points whereit p'asses'through the pinions, because at suchtimeslit would be customary to ,disengage the v drivingl shaft from` the pinions.' v1f 'v' j On account of the fact that both clutches are controlled `independently of themechanism `which locks the several pinions to the drivingshaf'itis possible to provide means foicontrolling said clutches from treadles controlling vthe `change-speed mechanism.; This is a lgreat,,advantage over present constructions ,in which i the reversing and changespeed mechanisms are simultano ously controlled by the same lever. i For eX- ;aniplc, in-order tomake a quick stop and reverse, it would be necessary to simply release one clutch and throw in the other without regard` to .the change-speed mechanism. kSuch manipulation of the clutches could be instantly accomplishedI by means of foot sity of removing the handsfrom the steering mechanism.

I claim: i l

1. In an axle drive meclianisn1,'the 'combii nation withy a pair o-f drivingwheels, of'a continuous axle extending between said wheels, 4a. reversible overrunning connection from each end ofthe axle to the adjacent wheel, a pair of oppositely disposed disks corresponding pin 76, while the bell crank 88 is connected through the medium of a independently mounted for rotation upon provided at theother side of the machine,` so thatfwhen thelink is manipulated for v throwinvinthe reversing clutch, the pins 7 yon thedash board independently of a hand lever or the like, which may be provided for `.the axle, circularrows of driving teeth on link 89.tothe [corresponding pin76 on the simply upon the number ofvsets `of annular twoof'suchsets areillustrated in the draw- "bymeans of thisconstruction, the only ffice lOO i icV treadles or the like, andk without the necesthe facing surfaces of said disks, a driving shaft extending at'right angles to the axle and having its'end portion lying between the disks, driving' pinions on said shaft, each pinion meshing with opposite rows of teeth on the two disks, means for independently connecting each pinion to the driving shaft for driving purposes, a circular driving member connected to each disk, friction cones splined to the axle'in position to independently engage said driving members, means for independently forcing said triction cones into trictional` engagement with their respective driving members, means for reversing th-e direction of overrun of each of said overrunning connections, and a connection vfrom each overrunning reversing means to the corresponding friction cone forcing means for the purpose of reversing the direction of overrun of ea-chvoverrunning connection according to the direction of rotation of the axle. .i

2. In an axle drive mechanism, the combination with a pair of driving Wheels, of a continuous axle extending between the said wheels, independent reversible l overrunning connections vfor drivingly connecting the lwheels to the axle, a pair of independent driving disks rotatably mounted on the axle between the overrunning connections, a driving shaft lying substantially yat Vright angles to the axle and having its end portion extending between the disks, circular rows ot' gear teeth 'on the opposing faces of the disks, pinions on the driving shaft simultaneously meshing with oppositev rows of gear teeth, means for drivinglyjconnecting each pinion to the shaft independently of the other pinions, .a driving member operatively connected to each disk, a friction `cone slidably mounted on the axle adjacent to each disk, a driving connection from each of said cones to the axle, means for independe ently forcing said cones into driving engagement with the driving members, and means for reversing the operation Vof the ovcrrunning connections corresponding to the movements of the friction cones into engagement w'th their respective driving members.

3. In an axle drive mechanism, the combinationwith a pair of driving wheels, of a continuous `axle extending between said wheels, a reversible overrunning connection between each wheel and the corresponding end of the axle, means for driving the axle in either direction of rotation, and means for reversing the reversible overrunning connections with reversal of direction lof axle drive. Y

` 4;. Inman axle'drive mechanism, the combination with a-pair of driving wheels, of a continuous axle extendingl between said wheels, a reversible overrunning connection between each wheel and the corresponding end of theaxle, means for driving the central portion ot the axle in either direction of rotation, and means for reversing the direction of overrun of the reversible overrunning connections according to the direction otdr'ive of the axle. i

5. In an axle drive mechanism, the combination with a pair of driving wheels, of a continuous axle extending between said wheels, means for driving that portion of the axle which is between thewheels in either direction of rotation, a reversible driving connection between eachend of the axle and the corresponding driving wheel, each 'of said connections permitting the corresponding wheel to overrun in the direction of the drive,A and means for reversing the direction ot drive of said `connections according to the direction of drive of the axle..

6. in an axle drive mechanism, the combi-` nation with a pair of driving wheels, of a continuous f axle extending betweenl said wheels, means for driving said axle in either directionv of rotation, aV reversible driving connection between each end of the axle and th-e corresponding wheel, each of said connections permitting the corresponding wheel to overrun with repect to the axle in the instantaneous direction of drive, and means forreversing the direction of drive of said connections according to the driving direction of the axle.

JOHN WV. DA-WSON.

Witnesses THOMAS A. BANNING, Jr.,

FRANCES M. Fnos'r.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

